Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a disease in which the liver becomes permanently damaged and the normal structure of the liver is changed. Healthy liver cells are replaced by scarred tissue. The liver is not able to do its normal functions, such as detoxifying harmful substances, purifying blood, and making vital nutrients. In addition, scarring slows down the normal flow of blood through the liver, causing blood to find alternate pathways. This may result in bleeding blood vessels known as gastric or esophageal varices .

Definition

Cirrhosis is a disease in which the liver becomes permanently damaged and the normal structure of the liver is changed. Healthy liver cells are replaced by scarred tissue. The liver is not able to do its normal functions, such as detoxifying harmful substances, purifying blood, and making vital nutrients.

In addition, scarring slows down the normal flow of blood through the liver, causing blood to find alternate pathways. This may result in bleeding blood vessels known as gastric or esophageal varices .

Laparoscopy —looking at the liver via a thin tube with a lighted camera

Other tests may include:

Inserting a catheter into the liver vein and measuring the pressure within that vein; rarely necessary

Removing fluid from the abdomen and examining it

Other tests to determine what caused the cirrhosis and what complications may occur

Prevention

To help reduce your chance of developing cirrhosis, take these steps:

Drink alcohol in moderation. Moderate alcohol intake is no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.

Get hepatitis vaccines.

Practice safe sex to lower your chance of getting hepatitis B.

If you use IV drugs, do not share needles, which can spread hepatitis B, C, or D.

Maintain a healthy weight.

Follow your doctor's recommendations about blood tests when taking medications that may damage the liver.

Risk Factors

Factors that may increase your chance of having cirrhosis include:

Alcohol abuse

Hepatitis infection

Liver cancer

Use of drugs toxic to the liver

Being overweight or gaining weight

Diabetes that is poorly controlled

Ingestion of too much iron

Symptoms

Cirrhosis often does not cause symptoms early in the disease process. Symptoms start when the liver begins to fail, as scar tissue replaces healthy cells. Symptom severity depends on the extent of liver damage.